Button cover



Dec. 4, 1951 H, R H 2,577,723

BUTTON COVER Filed May 24, 1949 IIVI/[NTOIQ Hf/VPY GEO/v BY am 421% ATTORNEY 3 for the reception of a button 4 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Internally of the enclosure 3 and secured at one end to the side wall 2 is a bifurcated spring plate member 5 having arms 6 and 1. The plate member 5 is bent at an angle at 8 and being secured at 19 to the side wall 2, it exerts a constant positive pressure in use on the undersurface of the button as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The two arms 6 and I define a recessed portion II for the reception of a button shank or attaching thread l2. In normal position the plate '5 falls short of the opposite side of the wall to which it is attached to leave a gap l3 through which a button can be inserted whereupon the spring plate is forced out of normal position into locking or tensioning position in which it may substantially cross the entire width of the enclosure 3.

To assist in preventing the button from slipping out from under the button cover it is advantageous also to crimp over the rim of the wall 2 at least in that part near to which the plate extends at its free end. This provides a flange I4 which acts as a barrier against inadverent release of the button cover.

It is preferable to form the member 5 with a depending portion [5 arranged and so formed as to terminate in a curved portion [6 which is adapted to rest in the junction of the wall 2 with the cover portion 1. The portion I5 is arranged to fit snugly along the inside of the button cover which, in turn, is preferably flared outwardly as at I! (Fig. l) in conformity with the shape of the portion l5 of the'member 5. This adds to the tension on the spring plate and greatly increases its gripping power. The tips of the prong'member 6 and 1 of the member 5 flare outwardly as at l8 (Fig. 4) to facilitate entrance of the button shank or thread into recess I I.

The contour of the improved button cover may take any desired form. For simplicity it is shown in the drawings as of circular form but it may be rectangular or any other desired shape. Similarly the outer surface of the cover portion I may be suitably decorated for ornamental purposes. The entire device may be formed of metal which may be gold plated and the spring plate member 5 should be of spring steel or spring brass or similar inherently resilient material. The cover proper may be formed of plastic material and in the light of recent and projected advances in the plastic art the entire device might be made of suitable artificial material such as nylon, polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate or ,cellulose acetate. For the present it is preferred to con struct the device of spring steel or spring brass,

and if desired, to plate or coat it with some ornamental metal such as gold, silver, or other substance.

As indicated above, the button cover in accordance with this invention can be made by molding or stamping the component parts in one or two operations from blanks of appropriate metal or other material. In one preferred construction, the improved button cover is formed of two parts each separately stamped out and joined together in one operation. This is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 and 6. In Fig. 3 there is shown a plan View of a stamped out cover portion and side walls proshown the other member composed of the spring plate 5 bearing anarm [5 which in the given e'x-' ample is shown to be of arcuate form to conform with the internal shape of the side wall 2.

The'spring plate 5 with arm [5 is attached to side wall 2 as shown in Fig. 2 by bending over the lugs l9 to engage and anchor the arcuate arm l5 near the rim of the side wall 2. Alternatively or in addition the member 5 may be recessed as at 2| (Fig. 4) and an additional or single lug l9 provided for reception therein. Other means can be used to effect this attachment but as shown the arrangement described is effective, simple to perform and cheap to reproduce.

The plate 5 after. stamping may be given the desired circular formation by a bending operation as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 and the top of the rim can be flanged over as at i l, also by a simple operation.

As an alternative to this arrangement, the im proved button cover may be stamped out in one single operation from a blank 20 (Fig. 8) which blank has the required cover portion l at one end. The shaded part of the blank 20 is removed to leave a unitary piece which may readily be bent into the desired shape illustrated in Fig. 7.

In the claims the reference to a button shank is understood to include attaching thread.

I claim: 7

1. A cover member consisting of a recessed cap portion, a bifurcated angular spring member rigidly secured to and extending inwardly from one part of the rim of said cap member within said recessed interior thereof, said spring member extending downwardly into said recessed portion and then upwardly towardthe opposite rim of said recessed portion, a gap being formed between said opposite rim and said member normally too narrow to admit a button therethrough, said bifurcated spring member being secured to said rim portion by two turned over lugs attached to said rim portion and engaging an arcuate arm extending on each side of said bifurcated spring member.

2. A cover member as defined in and by claim 1. in which said bifurcated spring member is provided with an arm extending inwardly and arranged to fit snugly into'said recessed portion of said button cover, said cover and said arm terminating in outwardly flaring coextending end portions. g

3. A detachable cover for buttons comprising a cover portion, a peripheral side wall defining an enclosure for a button, a spring plate member extending from one side and ending in a bifurcated portion short of the opposite side of said enclosure, said plate member being bent eccentrically of and toward said cover portion,

- Number REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent; V

.UNITED'STATES PATENTS Name Date "358,080 Smith. Feb. '22, 1887 1,747,322 "Riker 'Feb. '18, 1930 

